Falling for Learning Podcast

This podcast supports parents and caregivers in gaining the tools and information needed to keep the next generation on track for learning and on track for success! New episodes released Saturdays at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Follow us: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fallingforlearning/ . Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fallingforlearning/ .

Falling for Learning Podcast is a education podcast hosted by TD Flenaugh, with 168 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

TD Flenaugh hosts Falling for Learning Podcast, a education show with 168 episodes published.

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  Episode #11

  Food, Family, and Nutrition: Teaching Kids to Eat Smarter

  Sep 19, 202635 minS4

  Food, Family, and Nutrition: Teaching Kids to Eat Smarter This episode focuses on how parents and educators can help kids make healthier food choices in a world full of recalls, processed foods, and mixed messages about nutrition. T.D. Flenaugh and Lauren Moseley discuss practical ways to teach children about food safety, food labels, and the connection between food and how the body works.They also explore how cooking, gardening, and eating together can build healthier habits, stronger family connections, and a more informed approach to food. Episode Highlights 00:43 - Lauren’s perfume-making detour and a segue into food safety 03:23 - Education as a tool for health and empowerment 06:11 - Connecting nutrition lessons to real-world reading and writing 10:20 - Using research and documentaries to study what’s in food 13:50 - Black bean sprouting as a simple at-home science lesson 16:14 - Food festivals, family recipes, and cultural connections 21:20 - Modeling healthy choices when family and school influences differ 23:32 - Avoiding shame, reward, and punishment around food 27:36 - Taste buds, food habits, and trying new things over time 30:51 - How sight, smell, and taste work together in food choices 33:14 - Final encouragement to help kids become informed eaters

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  Episode #7

  These Kids Can't Write

  Sep 12, 202642 minS4

  Season 4, episode 11 Replay Show Notes These 12th Graders Can't Read or Write A Texas teacher’s viral reaction to finding 12th graders unable to complete a simple sentence frame sparks a larger conversation about literacy, expectations, and what schools can do when students are far behind. T.D. Flenaugh and Lauren Moseley unpack why the frustration is real, but also why giving up or over-scaffolding is not the answer.In this episode, they focus on how to assess students honestly at the start of the year, how to use scaffolds without keeping them forever, and how creativity, choice, and consistent practice can help older students close literacy gaps. Episode Highlights 00:19 - Why a Texas 12th grade literacy meltdown went viral 03:23 - What scaffolding means in practice 08:24 - Why beginning-of-year assessment matters more than immediate scaffolding 14:33 - Telling students where they need to be without shaming them 16:32 - Grade-level standards and asking students to articulate them 19:28 - How a five-page narrative helped eleventh graders succeed 22:44 - Why choice helped get 100 percent work completion in some tasks 26:12 - Setting a 10-minute writing goal and increasing expectations over time 32:22 - Pulling back sentence frames as students improve 40:33 - Why the conversation will continue with reading as well as writing 41:02 - Closing advice: release scaffolds, raise expectations, and keep practice fun

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  Episode #10

  Teaching Civic Engagement: How to Think, Vote, and Lead

  Sep 5, 202635 minS4

  Teaching Civic Engagement: How to Think, Vote, and Lead This episode of Falling for Learning Podcast focuses on civic engagement and why it matters to start early with students. T.D. Flenaugh and Lauren Moseley talk about helping kids think critically, understand rules and laws, and practice participation through voting, writing letters, and solving community problems. In this conversation, they connect classroom routines to bigger democratic habits and share practical ways teachers and parents can help children use their voice without telling them what to think. Timestamps 00:00 — Introducing civic engagement and helping students think critically 06:30 — Writing letters and giving children a voice in public concerns 13:13 — Student advocacy and how schools can respond to children’s needs 19:40 — Teaching respectful disagreement, nuance, and civil discourse 26:05 — Community responsibility through animal care and local action 34:39 — Closing encouragement for educators and parents

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  Falling for Learning Podcast

  Kids Don’t Know How to Read: Why Phonics Matters

  Aug 29, 202629 min

  T.D. Flenaugh unpacks the reading crisis through the lens of a veteran educator, reading specialist, and National Board Certified Teacher. The episode explains why many kids struggle to read, how the science of reading differs from whole language instruction, and what parents and teachers can do right now to help children catch up. In this episode, T.D. Flenaugh shares how her own experience teaching reading began in childhood, why phonics shaped her approach, and why she believes consistent support at school and at home is essential. She also discusses dyslexia, the reading wars, and the importance of making reading practice regular, supportive, and shame-free. Episode Highlights 02:16 - How she learned reading through phonics 04:54 - What whole language and three cueing try to do 08:02 - Who gets left behind without explicit instruction 09:28 - What dyslexia means for reading development 11:21 - Why structured literacy builds reading skill 13:16 - The reading wars and how publishing shaped them 18:12 - Reading support as a village effort 19:38 - The summer slide and why kids lose progress 21:00 - Simple things parents can do at home 23:22 - Why 10 minutes a day beats one long weekly session 24:43 - Moving forward with science based reading support Action items Review the alphabet and high frequency words with your child regularly. Use short, daily reading sessions instead of occasional long sessions. Reinforce school learning at home, especially during breaks. Seek help from teachers, reading interventionists, tutors, or library programs if needed. Stay patient and consistent, even if your child is behind.

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  Falling for Learning Podcast

  Paula Banks - A Literacy Expert Empowers Young Writers

  Aug 22, 202625 min

  In this episode of Falling for Learning , T.D. Flenaugh sits down with Paula Banks, a creative confidence educator, children’s author, and founder of Lit Kids Create. Paula shares how curiosity, reading, and storytelling shaped her path as an educator and how she now helps children discover that their voices matter before they worry about writing perfectly. Key Topics Paula’s educational journey How Lit Kids Create helps children express ideas and build confidence The “Books by Me” program and how students become published authors Why “confidence before correction” matters for young writers How a negative early writing experience can affect a child for years The importance of being your child’s “first hype crew” Highlights Paula explains that children often shut down when adults lead with criticism instead of encouragement. She shares her belief that kids need confidence before correction, and that adults should notice what’s working before pointing out what needs revision.She also describes how her program gives students ownership over their stories, characters, and plot ideas while guiding them through the publishing process. For Paula, the goal is not just writing—it’s helping children feel safe, heard, and valued. Resources Lit Kids Create: https://litkidscreate.com Instagram: @litkidscreate Facebook: Paula Banks Anthology: I Got a Story to Tell, Volume One

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